IFAD and FAO announce new rural development projects in Catamarca

Representatives from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concluded a working mission in Catamarca, Argentina. The visit focused on reviewing existing funded projects and discussing new initiatives to bolster rural development in the province.

During meetings with Governor Raúl Jalil and other provincial officials, IFAD Vice President of Operations Donal Brown confirmed an agreement to advance a new project next year. Strategic areas for future cooperation include rural tourism, strengthening production value chains, improving marketing and commercialization for small-scale producers, and expanding irrigation systems near the provincial capital.

The delegation also toured various local production sites, including the ‘Arcoíris de la Puna’ aquaculture project in Laguna Blanca and textile cooperatives in Belén, to observe community-led sustainable development efforts.